Tips on how and when to clean your dentures

Removable dentures need proper care, just like real teeth, as bacteria can grow on them, and plaque and tartar can form. — dpa

Just as it does on natural teeth, bacteria-filled plaque can form on your dentures and harden into tartar.

So it’s important to clean your set of false teeth regularly and well too, experts say.

According to German dental health information organisation proDente, you should clean your dentures at least twice daily with a denture brush, preferably after main meals.

The experts recommend using a cleansing foam or liquid soap, which should be carefully rinsed off afterwards.

Supplemental cleaning with denture cleanser tablets is also an option, but no substitute for thorough cleaning with a brush.

By no means use normal toothpaste or similar products, as they are highly abrasive and can damage your dentures.

Before cleaning, it’s a good idea to fill the washbasin with water or cover it with a towel so that your dentures aren’t damaged if you drop them.

And when cleaning them, pay special attention to the outer and inner surfaces that lie on your jaw ridge and roof of your mouth.

Always rinse out your mouth thoroughly with water after eating, and if possible, also take out your dentures and rinse them under running water.

Never scrape off any tartar on your dentures with a knife or other hard object, proDente warns, as it could quickly damage the expensive dental prosthesis.

This is a job for your dentist, who is also the person to turn to if your dentures cause pressure sores or are otherwise uncomfortable.

And don’t forget that the inside of your mouth requires regular care too, particularly the mucous membrane covered by your dentures and the back of your tongue.

These areas should be cleaned and massaged daily with a soft toothbrush, which stimulates blood flow and helps prevent inflammation. – dpa